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North Carolina’s Outer Banks The Ultimate Coastal Golf Destination
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ocated at the top of North Carolina’s barrier islands, the Outer Banks divides the Atlantic Ocean from the Currituck Sound. With so many holes along the waters completely surrounding the Outer Banks, it’s hard to imagine a more picturesque and exciting place to tee it up. The OBX is not the trumped-up, touristy golf destination that has developed over time in other coastal towns. Instead, it is a throwback coastal retreat with a charm that is preserved not only in its distinct culture but across many of its big-name golf designs as well. In recent years, the OBX has begun to assert itself as a true golf destination, with an array of courses that are more closely tied to all of nature’s coastal elements than what you’ll find in other East Coast golf destinations. Nags Head Golf Links features several holes routed right along the Roanoke Sound. With its coastal winds, rugged shoreline, island holes, seaside vistas, and tees and greens are separated by rolling dunes and wild sea grass, Nags Head bears far more than a passing resemblance to the famed Scottish golf links. The Currituck Club is a Rees Jonesdesign located on the top end of the barrier island. This grand design along the coast was “sculpted on the type of land where golf began” among 600 acres of dunes, wetlands, maritime forests and sound seascapes. Located on the mainland, Kilmarlic Golf Club is an upscale Tom Steele design set amidst 605 beautiful acres of maritime forest that provides a pure OBX layout with water and wetlands virtually in play at all times. Kilmarlic has played host to many state open championships, as well as an annual Intercollegiate tournament.
Kilmarlic Golf Club The Pointe Golf Club is a traditional design that spreads out across the rural Carolina mainland. The Pointe is known as the most player-friendly course on the Outer Banks and consistently offers fairways and greens that are considered among the finest along the East Coast. Last but not least, The Carolina Club is a big, brawny layout (especially in relation to the others in the region) that stretches to within lob wedge distance of 7,000 yards. Designed by popular architects Russell Breeden and Bob Moore, the course features an island green par 3 that can be challenging to hit when the ocean breezes kick up and penetrate the mainland. A wide range of top-shelf and equally eclectic accommodations can be found all along OBX. The area’s latest golf group accommodations are The Cottages at Kilmarlic. Located within the Kilmarlic
Resort and Golf Club, these well-appointed cottages feature two-bedrooms, two baths, full kitchen, living room and back deck complete with a gas grill – providing the perfect setting to relax and enjoy the view of the lighted putting green. A four-hole par-3 short course called “The Killie” wraps around the Cottages for added fun during your golf vacation stay. There is no denying the quality of the golf on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. But whatever combination of golf courses you choose on your visit, just don’t go there thinking that the trip is going to be a stepping stone to something greater. The OBX golf experience can certainly hold its own against all others – near or afar. A golf getaway to the Outer Banks is simply one you and your friends will greatly enjoy. For golf package information visit www.PlayOBXGolf.com.
Nags Head Golf Links, 18th Hole 20
Golfing Magazine
